A Viettel employee installs a base transceiver station. The telecom carrier has begun operating the first base transceiver station for the fifth generation (5G) network in HCMC - PHOTO: VIETTEL

HCMC - Local telecom carrier Viettel has begun operating the first base transceiver station for the fifth generation (5G) network in HCMC on a trial basis, and will begin offering 5G service in District 10.

The move is part of its overall plan to offer 5G service in HCMC.

Viettel is accelerating the installation of 10 base transceiver stations located around Viettel’s headquarters in District 10’s Ward 12, to put them into operation this month.

The telecom carrier has developed the 5G network on the Telco Cloud infrastructure, which helps shorten development time, assist its operation and match global trends.

Viettel Deputy General Director Tao Duc Thang said the group expects to soon offer HCMC residents with 5G service. The pilot will help Viettel improve the service before officially putting it into commercial operation in 2020.

According to the license to pilot the 5G network that the Ministry of Information and Communications issued to Viettel, its 5G service includes a mobile internet speed of 1,000-1,300 megabits per second. The speed is expected to be further increased in the coming periods.